Spotted snake eel (Ophichthus ophis) fish species and information / pictures of Spotted snake eel - Ophichthus ophis

Spotted snake eel (Ophichthus ophis) fish species information

Scientific Name
Ophichthus ophis

Common Name
Spotted snake eel

Biology
Body pale, dark band across back of head (Ref. 26938).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Eels and Morays (Anguilliformes)

Family

Snake eels (Ophichthidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Bermuda and southern Florida, USA to Brazil. Lesser Antilles (Ref. 26938). Eastern Atlantic: Senegal to Angola (Ref. 4455). Mediterranean (Ref. 50345). Doubtful record from the western Mediterranean.

Range

- 25°S

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

21 m

Depth To - meters

50 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 21 - 50 m (Ref. 2683), usually ? - 50 m (Ref. 26999)

Trophic Level

4.34 s.e. 0.44 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

210 cm

Common Length

100.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; bait: usually

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (75 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30911)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated